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Oct 3, 2018 · You usually have to continue taking statins for life because if you stop taking them, your cholesterol will return to a high level. If you forget to take your dose, do not take an extra one to make up for it.
- Side Effects
You should discuss the benefits and risks of taking statins...
- Atorvastatin
Atorvastatin Brand name: Lipitor. Find out how atorvastatin...
- Considerations
Contact a GP for advice if you become pregnant while taking...
- Uses
Statins are usually used in combination with lifestyle...
- Rosuvastatin
Rosuvastatin Brand name: Crestor. Find out how rosuvastatin...
- Simvastatin
Simvastatin Brand names: Zocor, Simvador. Find out how...
- Pravastatin
Pravastatin Brand name: Pravachol. Find out how pravastatin...
- Healthy Weight
Information and advice for adults and children about healthy...
- Side Effects
You will not get any withdrawal symptoms. However, stopping atorvastatin may cause your cholesterol to rise. This increases your risk of heart attacks and strokes. If you want to stop taking your medicine, it's important to find another way to lower your cholesterol.
Jan 24, 2024 · Take Your Cholesterol Meds: Stopping Statins Can Cause Dangerous Side Effects. Stopping this critical medication on your own increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and more.
- What are statins?
- How to safely come off statins
- Stopping statins
- Reducing statin use
- Continuing statins with supplementation
- Why you may want to come off statins
- Talk with your doctor
Statins are prescription medications that can lower your cholesterol levels. Popular statins include atorvastatin (Lipitor), rosuvastatin (Crestor), and simvastatin (Zocor).
Statins work in two ways. First, they stop the production of cholesterol in your body. Second, they help your body reabsorb the cholesterol that has built plaques in your artery walls. This reduces your risk of blood vessel blockages and heart attacks.
Statins are typically very successful at lowering cholesterol, but they only work as long as you’re taking them. Therefore, most people who begin taking a statin medication will likely take it for the rest of their lives.
If you’ve been taking statins and would like to stop, you’ll need to do so with your doctor’s guidance. This is because it can be dangerous to stop taking statins. These drugs are highly effective in preventing heart problems such as heart attack and stroke. In fact, according to the American Heart Association (AHA), they can reduce your risk of these and other cholesterol-related problems by as much as 50 percent. The AHA looks at stopping the use of such effective medications as essentially doubling your risk of these health problems.
It’s possible for some people to stop taking statins safely, but it can be especially risky for others. For instance, if you have a history of heart attack or stroke, it’s not recommended that you stop taking these drugs. This is because you’re more likely to have another such problem when you discontinue statins.
However, if you don’t have a history of heart attack or stroke and you want to stop taking statins, your first step should be to talk to your doctor. They can help you find out what your risk factors are, and if stopping statins is a safe move for you.
Switching medications
Your doctor might suggest changing from a statin to a different type of cholesterol medication. For instance, the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends the following options for people with high cholesterol who cannot take statins: •ezetimibe, another cholesterol medication •a fibric acid supplement such as fenofibric acid, which can lower LDL levels and increase HDL levels •a slow-release niacin supplement, which can lower LDL levels, increase HDL levels, and lower triglyceride levels A different drug may be able to take the place of a statin in keeping your cholesterol levels in a safe range.
Adopting a diet and exercise program
Your doctor may suggest that you implement certain lifestyle changes before stopping the statin, or directly in place of the drug. These changes might include adopting an exercise program or modifying your diet. For example, the AHA suggests following a Mediterranean diet or vegan diet. Keep in mind, though, that these changes likely won’t work as quickly or as effectively as a statin in lowering your cholesterol. A healthy diet and exercise program can have many benefits for your overall health, but it may not be enough to replace the cholesterol-lowering effects of a statin. You and your doctor should closely monitor your cholesterol levels to make sure the diet and exercise changes are having the necessary effects on your cholesterol.
Instead of completely stopping your statin use, your doctor might suggest reducing your statin dosage. Less medication could mean fewer side effects, and the drug might still work well enough to manage your cholesterol levels.
Or your doctor could suggest reducing your statin dosage while adding another medication or supplement. This could resolve your issues with taking the drug, especially if they relate to side effects.
If side effects are your concern with statins, your doctor may suggest continuing to take the same dosage of your statin, but adding a supplement of CoQ10.
Some studies suggest that this plan could help reduce side effects. This is likely because statins can cause the levels of CoQ10 in your body to drop, leading to side effects such as muscle problems. Taking CoQ10 supplements could help reverse these side effects.
Not everyone needs to stop taking statins. Many people take statins for decades without having any side effects or issues. For those individuals, the medications can be a very effective form of treatment and prevention for cholesterol problems.
Others may not have the same experience with statins. People who decide to quit taking statins may have several different reasons for doing so. The following are some of the most common reasons for quitting statins.
If you want to stop taking your statin for any reason, talk with your doctor. If your doctor thinks it’s safe for you to consider changing your statin usage, they can help guide you. Reducing your dosage, adding supplements, or stopping the drug altogether might all be options.
Overall, the most important thing is to keep your cholesterol levels under control. Stopping statins on your own won’t accomplish that goal and could cause serious health risks. Work with your doctor to devise a treatment plan that can meet your cholesterol needs while keeping you safe and healthy.
Although uncommon, some statins have been linked with a small amount of weight gain. However, the benefits of taking a statin far outweigh this potential side effect. It’s important to maintain a healthy weight while taking your statin, to help protect your heart.
Jul 18, 2017 · It is this side effect, which may be related, first, to a tendency to gain weight while on simvastatin, and second, to a tendency to lose the weight when the drug is discontinued. Research shows sleep problems can promote weight gain.
People also ask
Can statins cause weight loss?
What are the side effects of stopping statin?
Should I stop taking statins?
What happens if you forget to take a statin?
What happens if you stop taking statins after a stroke?
Jul 23, 2024 · Learn how and why people stop taking statins here. Statins are a type of medication that doctors prescribe to lower levels of 'bad' cholesterol and reduce the risks of heart attack and...
